Democrat, Tulsa County (10/4/2009 5:53:42 AM)

Yes, most Americans would welcome less shouting and more tolerance of our neighbor's viewpoint. Preach that message to the "birthers," "deathers," and gun-toters who show up to be disruptive at town hall meetings and presidential events.

ajohnb, Jenks (10/4/2009 7:04:31 AM)

"Most reasonable Americans would welcome less shouting, and more tolerance of our neighbor's viewpoint."

And then the above comment by Democrat. Hilarious!!!

Those that demand tolerance are they themselves the least tolerant.

reckless abandon, Tulsa (10/4/2009 7:07:10 AM)

And it would certainly be refreshing if Inhoffe reflected that same attitude of respect and tolerance toward the President and the loyal opposition (and we are loyal). He, Colburn and Sullivan have done nothing to contribute to civilized discourse and have in fact helped to incite the rabble rousers. I would like to hear one, just one positive suggestion from any one of these guys toward healing the economy, health care, crime, pollution, poverty or war.

Democrat, Tulsa County (10/4/2009 7:18:10 AM)

ajohnb:

What do you know about me other than my disdain for dishonesty and murky-thinking?

I'm not one of the commenters on this site who tells people who to listen to or to keep their opinions to themselves.

I am the kind of commenter who will pick up on another commenter's avatar and make a point.

For example, you have chosen to use YOU LIE! as your avatar. By now, everyone should realize that it was Congressman Joe Wilson who lied and SHOUTED during President Obama's speech. Neither Wilson nor any of his defenders has yet to show the point in Obama's health care plan that promises free health care to illegal aliens. President Obama has called for more people to pay what they can afford to pay for health care.

I will be charitable with you and suggest that you check out the status quo. Currently any human who wants emergency medical treatment in the US is entitled to go to an emergency room and get that treatment. The hospital E.R.s then bill the patient for the services rendered. If the patient does not pay his/her share of the bill, then the hospital may pursue them in court. Ultimately, any money not recovered is either eaten by the hospital, or more likely, passed on to those of us who pay for insurance.

I would suggest that you do some thinking and write down a proposal for how we deal with both, the financial and ethical issues involved in deciding what to do about offering health care to the illegal aliens and to the poor of this nation.

To this point, your side appears to be contradicting itself when you claim to be both, pro-life and hostile to rendering potentially life-saving medical care to human beings who are not legally in the U.S.

droopy, wagoner (10/4/2009 7:40:47 AM)

Great letter, John. As one who voted for Mr. Inhofe each and every time he was on a ballot, I agree.

Eagle 4, Tulsa (10/4/2009 8:30:05 AM)

Inhofe needs no help in defending himself. His campaigns over the years have revealed that his egocentric viciousness and no-holds-barred character assassinations of his opponents work extremely well in Oklahoma.

It's just a shame those characteristics are not valued as highly in Washington, where he has very little influence despite his placements derived from his seniority.

minnieme, Tulsa (10/4/2009 8:35:35 AM)

Anyone who calls himself "You Lie!" isn't interested in less shouting and more tolerance. What a joke. And I'm sure Inhofe and his bank account thank you for all the votes.

Hobbs, Tulsa (10/4/2009 8:36:44 AM)

ajohnb...the mere fact YOU would even have the guts to post about the need for tolerance from others is is laughable. Look at your own avatar, that about about says it all. The rationalization process you rightwingers use to justify your thoughts words, and actions makes Muammar al-Qaddafi, look sane,

gadfly, Broken Arrow (10/4/2009 9:28:53 AM)

On the HBO Series "Real Time" with Bill Mahr it was noted that Senator Imhofe will be part of the Senate's delegation meeting in Copenhagen in November. Inhofe will be there in his capacity as the ranking Republican on the Energy Committee. Only Inhofe has no training, experience, or right to make energy-related decisions for the rest of us. Inhofe should recuse himslef, and send someone who is a qualified scientists in his place.

If Inhofe wants to continue to deny the reality of "Global Warming" he is doing his best to actually bring on the "rapture."

And Oklahomans who continue to support this "anti-science" quack -- who panders to the gas companies at every opportunity -- do so at their own collective peril.

James Young, Tulsa, Austin, Temecula (10/4/2009 10:24:29 AM)

We must be careful to distinguish between tolerance of other’s personal lives and tolerance of bad ideas (including the absence of ideas) in public discourse. We should not be tolerant of bad ideas or ignorance, challenging them with vigor. Inhofe’s ideas are bad ideas, driven by his corporate owners, ultimately damging our society and our planet.

WhoseLeft, Tulsa (10/4/2009 10:43:13 AM)

Hmm. Will we see another avatar implode from the contradictions of his "flair for the obvious", and disappear? I can hear the hissing steam.

Inhofe is no innocent. Neither is Coburn. Both have been in the bright national spotlight for their indiscretions: Inhofe for his outrageous and ill-considered comments about a sitting president of the united states--during two wars and while he was travelling abroad; Coburn for lying either now or back in June when he was brokering a million dollar deal for a disgraced colleague).
The rest of the nation is beginning to refer to our fair state as HeHaw land.

Faith, (10/4/2009 11:11:21 AM)

Eagle 4 hit this on the nailhead.

In addition, Inhofe gets paid plenty from the Gas and Oil industries to rail against Global Warming. He is an embarrassment to this state but money from these coporations have helped keep him in power.

Worried about the system, Tulsa (10/4/2009 11:14:27 AM)

Insider, I'll comment on your post. It's the absolute truth!

The mainstream media gives entirely too much representation to the radical right, because somewhere along the way balance has been mistaken for accuracy (I heard that on Real Time - their guests are consistently among the most educated and intelligent on TV). There is a grave danger in giving these bigoted and angry ideas any air time, because people will think they have credence. They are giving a voice to a minority who have no business occupying space in the mainstream.

Bud Green, No (10/4/2009 11:27:31 AM)

Good comments by everyone, well, except ajohnb and droopy again.

Inhofe needs to be replaced by someone who, unlike Inhofe, cares about his country, state and constituents enough to have guts, integrity and be able to do the right things rather than be an owned figurehead of lobbyists and special interests that care only about their greed.

peelumba, (10/4/2009 1:35:16 PM)

ugh Inhofe....when will the simpletons ever get enough of this neanderthal

fredsdad, Tulsa, OK (10/4/2009 2:34:18 PM)

Insider addresses the irreconcilable differences between the radical left and the sane right who are unwilling to take seriously the accusations of the welfare queens and helpless trust fund babies on the left who get all of their views from Obermann, Matthews, and Move on dot org.; while Democrat decries the "truthers" who claim Bush blew up the World Trade Center along with those who claim he knowingly lied about anything and tortured innocent young religious zealots who just wanted to steal a plane or two.

Fortunately both conclude with the fact that Reagan was indeed the man, that his policies are just what are needed now, that Maher is an uneducated, insane, walking emetic leading those incapable of independent thought, and that they should all be more tolerant of opposing thoughts.

Typical thread.

Democrat, Tulsa County (10/4/2009 2:53:59 PM)

Thanks for the hoot, fredsdad. I'll be laughing for the next 15 minutes about Ray Gun being duh man. BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

Hobbs, Tulsa (10/4/2009 3:15:30 PM)

fredsdad...wow, what a retort, never heard anything like that before and always, always, yours and the rights first instinct is aways protect your wallet. Your greed, easy rationalization, and self righteous wrongness...is keeping this country from being the country our founders wanted us to be. It's sad really.

Middleway(MB), Undisclosed Location (10/4/2009 3:38:28 PM)

I think whats typical is how fast this thread became a name calling joke...

The right and the left spin their viewpoint to their respective audiences.

THEY DO IT FOR PROFIT!!!!!!!!

"nothing like a good drama", or "if it bleeds it leads", are phrases that are true. We consume this media warfare ratings crap like dogs.

and what is getting accomplished?

People are no longer having sane discussions anymore

what a shame

WhoseLeft, Tulsa (10/4/2009 3:52:29 PM)

Fred'sDad,

You raise an interesting point. I say LETS BRING BACK the tax structure of the Ronald Reagan presidency, and we'd restore much of what is dangerously off kilter in today's USA.

Dare we bring back the tax rates of those rosey Reagan days?

We'd all be better for it. It would end the growing divide, the 1% who now hold 95% of the country;s assets. With that distribution, it makes democracy pretty darn difficult.

desert fox, (10/4/2009 7:56:59 PM)

Reagan actually over doubled the Nat'l debt while at the same time he was the 1st President ever to lower the tax rate on the highest income earners while simultaneously raising the rate on the bottom bracket.President Reagan also presided over the largest income tax increase in history, at the expense of those beneath the ultra-rich. This all verifiable.

Democrat, Tulsa County (10/5/2009 5:14:16 AM)

desert fox:

You are correct. I would add that you are being conservative in assessing Ray Gun's impact on the national debt. He nearly tripled it. As you point out, he absolutely increased taxes on the middle and working classes. Their 25% income tax cut was more than canceled out by the 31% increase he signed in the social security tax, not to mention the numerous other user tax increases and the shifting of the tax burden to the states with his "unfunded mandates." Because of Ray Gun, every baby inherits a "birth tax" as he takes his first breath.

Even though the conservative news media tries to beat the drum for Ray Gun's undeserved reputation as a tax cutter, the history books are accurate in their description. Ray Gun gets credit for signing bills that cut taxes on four occasions. He is also given the "credit" for signing fourteen bills that increased taxes. At least the kids are learning the truth in their history classes.

WhoseLeft, Tulsa (10/5/2009 7:53:05 AM)

Don't overlook the fact that the tax rates on the super wealthy during Reagan's day were much higher than they are today. The super wealthy now have rates so low that with loop holes and good tax advisers, they pay lower percentage wise than the rest of us.

ajohnb, Jenks (10/5/2009 8:52:12 AM)

Talk about thew avatar all you want. Obama is a liar. He has proved that over and over again. He made promises in the campaign that he has not kept. He know nothing about the healthcare bill that he proposes.

Liberals need to face up to the fact that Inhofe and Coburn are elected by a large majority in Oklahoma. You need to get over that.

Get over the fact also that your congress that has been seated since 2006 are responsible for many of the problems we have today. Bush could not do anything without the approval of Congress, so all the blaming Bush for everything is moot.

Presidents don't have the power you give them credit for unless the also control Congress.

See you are very intolerant of my avatar, but you expect me to be tolerant of your views. Laughable.

You must be miserable people realizing who you voted into the office of President. Keep defending him to the best of your ability. Remeber, he is your rock star!

RAJOKC, (10/5/2009 9:46:07 AM)

"Fortunately both conclude with the fact that Reagan was indeed the man, that his policies are just what are needed now:

Amen. Of course Reagan working in close concert with Tip O'Neill saved that government run socialist program called Social Security by raising the social security tax insuring Social Securities funding for the next half a century.

After legislating masive tax cuts for the wealthy when he took office, the ensuing trillion dollar budget deficit over ten years caused Reagan to reflect on the damage, and working with a Democratic House realized the consequences and Reagan RAISED personal income taxes.

We sure need a lot more of Reagan tax policies.